Recognizing, Honoring, and Celebrating the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation for its Commitment and Excellence in Preserving, Protecting, and Promoting Chinatown as a Viable Ethnic, Residential, and Business Community on the Occasion of it's 40th Anniversary: 2006.

WHEREAS, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation is a grassroots, non-profit, community-based organization whose mission is to preserve, protect, and promote Chinatown as a viable ethnic, residential, and business community; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation has grown and developed as a cultural, social, and commercial hub for Chinese and other Asians in the Delaware Valley area, where the population of Chinatown has grown by over 3,000 residents, and continues to increase; and

WHEREAS, A mandate was given to Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation to represent Chinatown in matters of urban renewal and community development; and

WHEREAS, For over a quarter of a century, Chinatown has had to withstand the adverse effects of projects such as the Ninth Street Ramp, Market Street East, The Gallery, and presently the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Additional evictions were made for the Center City Commuter Tunnel. Altogether, Chinatown has lost over one-quarter of its land, housing, and commercial stock; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation has been the recipient of a “Community Award” from the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects in 1980, a “Human Rights Award” from William Penn Foundation in 1982, a “ Civic Award” from the Foundation for Architecture in 1984, a “Green Thumb of the Decade Award” from The Philadelphia Green of the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society in 1984, a “Special Award for Excellence in Community Development” from ARCO, the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the Philadelphia Foundation in 1988, and a “Maxwell Award” from the Fannie Mae Foundation in 1999; and

WHEREAS, As a result of Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporations efforts, a master study was done by Gluck and Chadbourne in 1975. This was the first constructive step taken in planning for the survival and needs of Chinatown. On the basis of the urban design plans and policy recommendations made for Chinatown in this study, PCDC initiated and implemented many residential and commercial developments; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council Hereby Recognize, Honor, and Celebrate the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation for its Commitment and Excellence in Preserving, Protecting, and Promoting Chinatown as a Viable Ethnic, Residential, and Business Community on the Occasion of it’s 40th Anniversary: 2006.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to John Chin, the Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, as further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body

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